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Goodwin making strides as All-Star appearance approaches

Double-A Harrisburg Senators outfielder Brian Goodwin has been named to the Eastern League All-Star team. He will play for the Western Division on July 10 in New Britain, Conn.

It also comes at a time when Goodwin is starting to get into a nice rhythm at the plate. He has cut down on his strikeouts, with only five in his last 38 at-bats. He has had 10 hits in his last eight games, including a home run July 3, his seventh round-tripper of the season.

Harrisburg manager Matt Lecroy said Goodwin has made some positive strides dating back to past season and earned his entry into the All-Star Game.

"He has improved tremendously," Lecroy said. "His outfield play has improved. His hitting is getting better each time he goes out and plays. He has cut down on his strikeouts. He had a lot of strikeouts early. And he has got his self in a better position at the plate. He is running the bases a lot better.

"He has just got to play. He is learning. He hasn't played that much baseball and to be at Double-A is a challenge. I was really happy that he was named to the All-Star team and he deserved it."

Goodwin got off to a slow start with the strikeouts and a bit of anxiousness at the plate. Lecroy said they have worked with Goodwin on his approach and the dividends are starting to be realized.

"I think he was just chasing," Lecroy said of those early at-bats. "He was in a bad position. He never got in position to see the baseball. He was taking a lot but then he was chasing a lot. He was real aggressive.

"But now he is starting to see the ball. He is using the whole field. His hands are amazing. When he puts it all together he is going to be a special player."

Goodwin was named the Most Valuable Player in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Game last November. Goodwin smacked a leadoff home run and later had an RBI double. Now he gets a shot to play in the Double-A version of the Mid-Summer Classic with several of his teammates. Nice strides for the kid who played 58 games for low Single-A Hagerstown just last season.